Daily Archives: Oct. 28, 2007

Open thread 10/28

Oct. 28, 20071:05 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments

War cost estimate boggles the mind

Oct. 28, 20071:04 a.m.

I’m still trying to get my head around the latest estimate of the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Congressional Budget Office estimated last week that the two wars may cost $2.4 trillion (that’s with a “t”) through 2017. The estimates assume that about 75,000 U.S. troops will remain in the two countries for the next decade — which may not end up being the case but is not unreasonable, a defense analyst told USA Today. Part of the reason for the much higher estimate is that the wars are being funded with borrowed money, and the CBO included an interest cost of $705 billion. The new estimate calculates to $8,000 for every man, woman and child in the United States.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Iraq | Comments

Brownback right on DREAM Act

Oct. 28, 20071:03 a.m.

Good for Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., for voting with 11 other Republicans Wednesday to try to advance the DREAM Act — the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. The effort failed, 52-44, confirming that the majority in Congress would rather do nothing than do anything to bring the millions of illegal immigrants out of the shadows of our economy and communities. But Brownback and the others in favor deserve credit for trying to help the youngest and most innocent among the illegal immigrant population — those who came here with their parents and have graduated from high school here. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., voted “nay.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Immigration | Comments

McCain lone GOP voice of moral clarity on torture

Oct. 28, 20071:01 a.m.

Rudy Giuliani said in Iowa Wednesday that he didn’t know if water-boarding was torture. “It depends on the circumstances,” he said. “It depends on who does it.”
That brought a sharp rebuke from John McCain, the lone voice of moral clarity in the GOP on torture. “It is not a complicated procedure. It is torture,” he said.
McCain pointed to its use by the Spanish Inquisition, Cambodian leader Pol Pot, and reportedly by the Burmese government against Buddhist monks.
Giuliani and other GOP leaders would put America in this company?
Posted by Randy Scholfield

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Presidential race | Comments